BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Conserving Carolina - ECPv6.17.0//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Conserving Carolina
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://conservingcarolina.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Conserving Carolina
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260902T153000
DTSTAMP:20260521T112227Z
CREATED:20260521T112039Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260521T112227Z
UID:10012774-1788357600-1788363000@conservingcarolina.org
SUMMARY:Etowah Library Speaker Series: Enjoying Butterflies in Your Backyard
DESCRIPTION:Date: September 2\, 2026 \nTime: 2:00 p.m. \nLocation: Etowah Library \nSpeaker: David Ahrenholz \nButterfly populations across the United States have declined at least 22% since 2000. This presentation is an introduction to the butterflies occurring in the fields\, forests and lawns of Western North Carolina and it includes ways to us backyard plants to attract and support them. \nDr. Ahrenholz began his interest in butterflies as a child in Iowa. He taught himself photography because family and friends were not interested in dead insect specimens. After medical school he continued his passion for nature photography\, photographing butterflies across the US and tropical South America. His photographs captured new species and led to an appointment as a Research Associate in the Entomology Department at the Smithsonian. He has pursued a 25-year project with the museum to document the butterflies of Ecuador in photographs and by collecting specimens. After retiring from his surgical career at the University of Minnesota\, he moved with his wife to their horse farm in the Landrum area where he enjoys equestrian foxhunting and sharing images from his butterfly garden. \n*Space is limited and pre-registration is required by visiting the Etowah Library’s calendar of events\, link coming soon!  \n \nThe Etowah Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Henderson County Public Library. \nContact Pam Torlina\, pam@conservingcarolina.org\, with questions or for more information.
URL:https://conservingcarolina.org/event/etowah-library-speaker-series-enjoying-butterflies-in-your-backyard/
LOCATION:Etowah Library\, 101 Brickyard Road\, Etowah\, NC\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://conservingcarolina.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tiger-Swallowtail.jpg
GEO:35.3188073;-82.594624
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Etowah Library 101 Brickyard Road Etowah NC United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=101 Brickyard Road:geo:-82.594624,35.3188073
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T153000
DTSTAMP:20260221T204616Z
CREATED:20260221T204616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260221T204616Z
UID:10012681-1788876000-1788881400@conservingcarolina.org
SUMMARY:Saluda Library Speaker Series: The Ecology of Exposure - Rock Outcrop Plant Communities in the NC Mountains
DESCRIPTION:Date: September 8\, 2026 \nTime: 2:00 p.m. \nLocation: Polk County Public Libraries\, Saluda Branch \nSpeaker: Gary Kauffman\, botanist and ecologist \nWe often admire rock outcrops from a scenic overlook or scramble across them on a favorite hike — but these dramatic landscapes are far more than just stone. Perched on ridges and cliffs throughout the western North Carolina mountains\, rock outcrops host unique plant communities shaped by elevation\, chemistry\, exposure\, and structure. \nIn this program\, we’ll explore where different outcrop types occur and how factors like pH\, slope\, and geology create distinct ecological worlds. You’ll learn how to tell them apart using a simple flow-chart key and discover the specialized plant species that cling\, bloom\, and thrive in these extreme environments. \nWhether you’re a hiker\, naturalist\, or plant enthusiast\, you’ll leave with a new way to “read” the rocks beneath your feet. \nGary Kauffman is trained as a botanist and ecologist\, with a master’s degree in botany and mycology. In 2025\, he retired from the National Forests in NC after 32 years of work. Gary’s job covered 1.4 million USFS acres from the mountains to the coast. He is currently on the board of the Asheville Botanical Garden and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy. Gary helps to teach a week-long rock outcrop course with Dr. Laura Boggess at the Highlands Biological Station.   \n \nThe Saluda Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Polk County Public Libraries Systems. \nContact Pam Torlina\, pam@conservingcarolina.org\, with questions or for more information.
URL:https://conservingcarolina.org/event/saluda-library-speaker-series-the-ecology-of-exposure-rock-outcrop-plant-communities-in-the-nc-mountains/
LOCATION:Polk County Library\, Saluda Branch\, 44 W Main Street\, Saluda\, NC\, 28773\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://conservingcarolina.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Whiteside-Mt-Granitic-Dome_.jpg
GEO:35.2365487;-82.3491943
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Polk County Library Saluda Branch 44 W Main Street Saluda NC 28773 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=44 W Main Street:geo:-82.3491943,35.2365487
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260908T190000
DTSTAMP:20260630T145435Z
CREATED:20260630T145333Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T145435Z
UID:10013132-1788890400-1788894000@conservingcarolina.org
SUMMARY:Landrum Library Speaker Series: The Awakening\, Biodiversity and History of the Southern Blueridge Escarpment
DESCRIPTION:Date: September 8\, 2026 \nTime: 6:00 p.m. \nLocation: Landrum Library \nSpeakers: Rick Huffman\, Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (FASLA) and SC Native Plant Society (SCNPS) Upstate Chapter President \nJoin us as Rick Huffman highlights the unique geology of the Blue Ridge and how millions of years of time and space have shaped our botanical world. With some of the highest diversity of plants and wildlife anywhere in the world\, our region and its natural history is truly a story that will inform and inspire. Mr. Huffman will present a lifetime of study and discovery of the region and present how we came to be. \nRick Huffman\, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)\, is the founder of Earth Design\, an environmental design and landscape architecture firm with more than 30 years of experience integrating ecology\, horticulture\, and landscape architecture to create resilient\, inspiring places. A nationally recognized conservation leader\, Rick founded the South Carolina Native Plant Society and continues to serve as its Advocacy Chair and Upstate Chapter President. He is the co-author of Life at the Water’s Edge\, recipient of numerous conservation and environmental education awards\, including the Governor’s Award for Environmental Awareness and the 2024 Lifetime Achievement for Conservation Award from Conservation Voters of South Carolina. In 2025\, he was elevated to Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects\, the profession’s highest national honor. Throughout his career\, Rick has been a passionate advocate for protecting native plants\, restoring natural landscapes\, and connecting people to the rich natural heritage of the Southern Appalachians. His lifelong study of the Blue Ridge Mountains has made him a sought-after speaker on the region’s remarkable geology\, biodiversity\, and the natural processes that have shaped one of the world’s most biologically diverse landscapes. \n \nThe Landrum Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Spartanburg County Public Libraries. \nContact Pam Torlina\, pam@conservingcarolina.org\, with questions or for more information.
URL:https://conservingcarolina.org/event/landrum-library-speaker-series-the-awakening-biodiversity-and-history-of-the-southern-blueridge-escarpment/
LOCATION:Landrum Library\, 111 Asbury Dr\, Landrum\, SC\, 29356\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://conservingcarolina.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Lily_.png
GEO:35.1791797;-82.1739976
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Landrum Library 111 Asbury Dr Landrum SC 29356 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=111 Asbury Dr:geo:-82.1739976,35.1791797
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260910T190000
DTSTAMP:20260708T195155Z
CREATED:20260708T195131Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260708T195155Z
UID:10013135-1789061400-1789066800@conservingcarolina.org
SUMMARY:Green Drinks: Fighting for Farmland - Henderson County Farmland Preservation
DESCRIPTION:Henderson County Farmland Preservation has kickstarted a new agricultural conservation easement program to work in tandem with existing preservation efforts. The current efforts\, through outreach\, Voluntary Ag Districts and Enhanced Agricultural Districts\, are working to ensure that the farmland in Henderson County remains productive and in the hands of farmers. The County lost over 8\,000 acres of agricultural land between 2017-2022\, and the preservation efforts through Soil and Water are aiming at preventing the continuous bleed seen throughout North Carolina. The state of North Carolina ranks second in loss of farmland\, and first in loss of farmland to development. Henderson County’s efforts to reduce the loss of farmland are in partnership and funded through the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. \nAngela was born and raised in Columbus\, North Carolina\, and became interested in environmental conservation and agriculture in high school through the agriculture program and FFA chapter at Polk County High. She attended Appalachian State for environmental science and received her master’s in environmental and soil sciences at the University of Tennessee\, where she focused on the reduction of food insecurity in Appalachia through small-scale agricultural production and farmland preservation. Her work was centered around creating a self-sustaining Appalachian Region to uplift rural communities and create mutually beneficial partnerships with nearby urban centers. \n  \n5:30 p.m.: Grab and drink and network with like-minded locals.\n6:00 p.m.: Enjoy the presentation and learn something new!\n  \nHendersonville Green Drinks is presented by Conserving Carolina\, MountainTrue and The Local Table curated by Stump Farms. Come to Green Drinks to learn more about current environmental issues\, have relevant discussions\, and meet with like-minded people. This is a monthly event and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to drink at Green Drinks\, just come and listen. The Local Table offers beer\, wine\, and non-alcoholic beverages. A limited food menu will be available. \n   \nContact Pam Torlina\, pam@conservingcarolina.org\, with questions or for more information.
URL:https://conservingcarolina.org/event/green-drinks-fighting-for-farmland-henderson-county-farmland-preservation/
LOCATION:The Local Table\, 1307 7th Ave E\, Hendersonville\, NC\, 28792
CATEGORIES:Education & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://conservingcarolina.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Henderson-Co-Farmland-Preservation.png
GEO:35.328244;-82.4506041
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=The Local Table 1307 7th Ave E Hendersonville NC 28792;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=1307 7th Ave E:geo:-82.4506041,35.328244
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260919T120000
DTSTAMP:20260524T145257Z
CREATED:20260524T114121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T145257Z
UID:10012777-1789813800-1789819200@conservingcarolina.org
SUMMARY:Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series: Appalachian Voices: Stories and Songs
DESCRIPTION:Date: September 19\, 2026 \nTime: 10:30 a.m. \nLocation: Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve \nPresenter: Johnny Thomas Fowler\, Storyteller\, Musician\, Author \nJohnny Thomas Fowler\, a storyteller-musician rooted in the rich traditions of the Appalachian South\, will share a lively blend of Appalachian tales\, personal stories\, humor\, and old-time mountain music. Accompanied by banjo\, harmonica\, jaw harp\, and bones\, Johnny weaves together storytelling and music with warmth\, wit\, and theatrical charm. Rich in heritage\, laughter\, and memorable moments\, this engaging program celebrates Appalachian culture and the timeless joy of gathering together for a good story and song. \nThis will be a great program for adults and children\, so bring the kids! \nJohnny Thomas Fowler is a featured performer at festivals like the National Storytelling Festival\, Florida Storytelling Festival\, Shoals Storytelling Festival and Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival\, Johnny captivates audiences of all ages. He also shares his talents in schools\, libraries\, churches\, and community events\, offering programs that celebrate culture\, creativity\, and connection. With every story and song\, Johnny invites listeners to laugh\, reflect\, and remember the power of a well-told tale. Whether he’s spinning a tall tale or sharing a soulful ballad\, Johnny’s performances are filled with warmth\, authenticity\, and the spirit of a front porch gathering. \nRSVP is requested below\, but not necessary to attend the event! Please join us! \n \nThe Walnut Creek Preserve Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Preserve. \n*Walnut Creek Preserve is private property and guests are only allowed on the property by invitation (a planned event or scheduled group).  Thank you. \nContact Pam Torlina\, pam@conservingcarolina.org\, with questions or for more information.
URL:https://conservingcarolina.org/event/walnut-creek-preserve-speaker-series-appalachian-voices-stories-and-songs/
LOCATION:Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve\, 179 Wood Thrush Lane\, Mill Spring\, NC\, 28756\, United States
CATEGORIES:Education & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://conservingcarolina.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Johnny-Fowler.jpg
GEO:35.3741662;-82.1656718
X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve 179 Wood Thrush Lane Mill Spring NC 28756 United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=500;X-TITLE=179 Wood Thrush Lane:geo:-82.1656718,35.3741662
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR